Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed concern over the growing number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, describing the situation as a “recruitment pool” for Boko Haram and other criminal groups in the future. Speaking at an event in Bauchi, Obasanjo warned that not addressing the educational needs of these 20 million children poses a significant security threat.
He said, “That is 10 percent of our population that should be in school but are not. This is recruitment for future Boko Haram, nobody needs to tell us that.” He further emphasized the importance of human capacity building and education to prevent these children from being exploited by extremists and criminals in the coming years.
Obasanjo’s comments come amid ongoing concerns about the rising influence of Boko Haram and banditry in Nigeria, with many experts warning that unaddressed social and economic issues are fueling the growth of such groups.
